Sushanta brushes aside Netai

Despite the Opposition turning the Netai killings into a poll plank, CPI(M) leader Sushanta Ghosh is not bothered and is convinced the incident will not affect voting.

Ghosh, the western region development minister and CPI(M) district secretariat member, West Midnapore, was speaking in Garbeta constituency after submitting nomination papers on Saturday.

Ghosh indicated that the absconding leaders, whose names were mentioned in the CBI charge-sheet, will participate in the election and the party is adopting new policies for it. He mentioned that the new policies are being taken in rebel-affected areas but refused to share details.

The CBI named 20 CPI(M) men, including eight leaders from Lalgarh, who remain absconding. They include Binpur zonal committee secretary Anuj Pandey, who have gone underground.

Jhargram subdivisional court has issued a warrant in the name of the eight CPI(M) leaders. “These party leaders cannot campaign or work from the front. But the underground leaders will definitely work and for that CPI(M) is making some policies and tactics,” said Ghosh.

Like the Nandigram issue in the previous Lok Sabha and panchayat elections, the Opposition, this time, had started campaigning with the Netai issue and also demanded proper punishment for those who are involved in the carnage. Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee is often seen talking about the Netai killings in her election rallies. But the CPI(M) claimed that they are not worried about it.

“The Netai issue will not affect the elections. We will definitely form the eighth Left Front government. In the time of 2001Choto Angaria, the opposition pressed false charges. But later it was proved in the court that our leaders were not involved. In Netai too it will be proved that opposition has made false charges,” said Ghosh.

The Opposition, on the other hand, alleged that Ghosh and CPI(M) has been winning from Garbeta for the last few years with the help of harmads.